Futuristic family the Jetsons might be jealous of the technology being employed inside Hayden Hall, Chicago's newest food hall from DMK restaurant group (Ada St., Fish Bar, County BBQ). Guests who frequent the space, which is nestled inside the CNA Building at 333 S Wabash Ave in the Loop, will use the Grubhub app to monitor food-prep times and order eats from the hall's 10 stalls.
Place an order in advance for pick-up, opt for delivery or mull over the menus on your phone from the venue's picturesque natural wine bar. Every kiosk provides a constantly updated wait time so that customers know exactly how long their meal will take to prepare. A digital leaderboard plastered near the entrance also displays these digits so that walk-in diners can easily assess their plan of attack. Though each kitchen is equipped with mounted iPads that allow guests to browse and purchase menu items without downloading the app, DMK co-owner David Morton says that he expects most people will take advantage of the mobile technology.
Photograph: Lindsay Widdel
Hayden Hall offers a hodgepodge of brand-new collaborations, revivals and DMK spinoffs. In addition to the main lineup, there's a first-floor coffee bar and bakery as well as a fully stocked salad bar upstairs. Also located on the second floor is a new outpost of beloved restaurant Ada St., complete with 75 seats, a beautiful cocktail bar and lunch and dinner menus. The interior of the 25,000-square-foot food hall was designed by Studio K with the Chicago's World Fair in mind, which translates to colorful stripes, muted jewel tones, a whimsical mural and ceramic monkeys hanging from the light fixtures.
Take a closer look at the 10 quick-service vendors located inside Hayden Hall, which opens to the public on Monday, February 3 in the Loop. Then, start flexing your fingers in preparation for placing your first order. Hayden Hall will be open Monday through Friday from 11am to 7pm and Saturday from 11am to 2pm; Julia's Coffee & Brioche is open Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm.
Photograph: Lindsay Widdel
Photograph: Ryan Thiel
10Q Chicken: The guys behind North Side burger joint bopNgrill are going all in on poultry with this new Asian-infused concept that deals in sticky wings, stacked sandwiches and Korean barbecue bowls.
Anaba Handroll Bar: Situated just off the Ada St. dining room is a bright-green cart that offers freshly prepared handrolls stuffed with king crab and maitake mushrooms, which are meant to be devoured within seconds of being served.
Brown Bag Seafood Co.: What started as a popular quick-service restaurant in the Loop has grown into a mini seafood empire with seven locations and counting. At Hayden Hall, diners will be able to order all the usual suspects, including crispy cod over grains and yellowfin tuna salad.
County BBQ: DMK owners David Morton and Michael Kornick teamed up with Erick Williams (Virtue) to bring saucy, meat-filled sandwiches to Hayden Hall; choose from pulled chicken, rib tips brisket and crispy pork puppies.
Great Lake Meat Co.: Also powered by Team DMK is this brand-new concept that highlights locally sourced meats tucked between bread. The Paulina Market cheddar brat topped with jammy caramelized onions is an early favorite.
Julia Coffee & Brioche: Loop commuters will have a new breakfast option in Julia, which showcases pours from Chicago's top brewers, including Big Shoulders, Dark Matter and Passion House. Pair your java with pecan-cinnamon or bacon-cheddar brioche buns.
Love Foods: We're willing to bet that CNA Building residents will be big fans of this loaded salad bar, which offers 100 seasonal items daily as well as grab-and-go drinks like coffee and beer.
Mana Food Bar: For more than a decade, Mana Food Bar was *the* destination for vegetarian foodies in Chicago until it closed in 2018. Hayden Hall offers a new home for the restaurant's most popular dishes, like the mushroom and brown rice sliders we've missed so dearly.
Taqueria DeColores: This Pilsen mainstay heads north with a variety of tacos and burritos stuffed with everything from steak and fish to veggies and Impossible ground beef.
Victory Italian: Chef-partner Joe Farina expands his Victory collection with a curated menu of greatest hits, including the saucy chicken parmesan bomber and three types of thin-crust pizza.